Emerging constellations that offer broadband with much lower latency than GEO satellites are being proposed by several companies. Analysts agree that the advent of these huge fleets of small satellites in non-geostationary orbits have the potential to change the paradigm for satellite communications and internet connectivity in particular.
From agriculture & mining to traffic observation, mapping & weather, new observation constellations are opening new opportunities to observe our planet in considerable detail. They also offer a range of solutions to meet the immediate needs of emergency responders, help civil protection as well as aid in disaster recovery in harsh environments and remote locations.
Dr. Chris Boshuizen
Dr. Chris Boshuizen is an Operating Partner at DCVC (Data Collective) leading investment in space (Capella Space, Rocket Lab) and other deep tech companies. Chris was co-founder of Planet Labs, a DCVC company providing unprecedented daily, global mapping of our changing planet from space. As the company’s CTO for 5 years, he took the company from the drawing board to having launched more satellites into space than any other company in history, completely transforming the space industry along the way. Chris was previously a Space Mission Architect at NASA Ames Research Center. After working on a number of traditional spacecraft programs at NASA, Chris co-created Phonesat, a spacecraft built solely out of a regular smartphone. Chris received his Ph.D. in Physics (with honors) and a BSc. in Physics and Mathematics, both from the University of Sydney.
Marc Bell
Marc Bell’s childhood dream of becoming an astronaut never came true, but as a serial entrepreneur and investor behind such companies as Terran Orbital, PredaSAR, Tyvak Corp., and more, he certainly has been to space.
His first foray into the segment was Terran Orbital, a pioneer in new space, which Marc co-founded in 2013. Terran has since become the corporate parent of two groundbreaking ventures in the space sector: Tyvak, which is today one of the largest manufacturer of nanosatellites in the world with over 220 satellites put into space; and PredaSAR, which is building and will operate the largest and most advanced constellation of Synthetic Aperture Radar satellites for myriad critical national security applications, as well as commercial uses.
Prior to his current endeavors, Marc was well-known as one of the founders of New York City’s “Silicon Alley.” He founded Globix: The Global Internet Exchange, in 1989, which became the world’s largest logical peer connecting over 1,000 internet providers around the world and helping to build the internet backbone. With a global network spanning more than 28,000 miles of fiber and the second-largest owner of Internet Data Center space, it hosted major websites for companies like Microsoft and Walmart.
In 2007, Marc sponsored Enterprise Acquisition Corp., a $250 million SPAC. The company later merged into Armour Capital Management (ACM). ACM currently manages Armour Residential REIT Inc. (NYSE: ARR), which today has over $5 billion in assets.
Beyond the world of business, Marc is a two-time Tony Award-winning producer. His credits include Jersey Boys, August: Osage County, Rock of Ages, Waitress, and most recently Beetlejuice, in addition to several full-length motion pictures.
Marc is a member of the Board of Trustees of New York University, Board of Overseers at New York University Langone Medical Center, and NYU Stern Center for Real Estate Finance Research Advisory Board. He is also Chairman of the Boca Raton Police Foundation and sits on the board of SOS Children’s Village.
Marc earned a Master of Science degree in Real Estate Development and Investment from New York University and a Bachelor of Science degree in Accounting from Babson College.
Cristi Damian
Mr. Damian holds a Masters degree in Electrical Engineering and initially held roles as a hardware engineer at various high-tech companies. He joined Advantech Wireless in 1995 and has held executive positions including in Operations, Manufacturing, Sales, and Engineering . His expertise is centered on Solid State RF technology for Space Applications, and complex integrated networks design.
Erwin Hudson
Erwin Hudson is Vice President, Telesat LEO. He is responsible for directing the development and implementation of Telesat’s planned LEO satellite constellation that will offer high throughput, low latency communications on a global basis.
Mr. Hudson is one of the industry’s most experienced executives in satellite-enabled broadband networks. He was Chief Technology Officer at WildBlue Communications, an early satellite broadband provider later acquired by ViaSat, that began building its U.S. subscriber base using the Ka-band spot beams on Telesat’s Anik F2 satellite. Prior to WildBlue, Mr. Hudson was a senior executive at Space Systems Loral and, before that he was Director Satellite Communications at TRW Space & Electronics.
Mr. Hudson recently led the ViaSat team that NBN Co selected to provide the ground infrastructure for the satellite portion of Australia’s National Broadband Network. He holds a number of patents and his innovations, technical and commercial, have driven the growth of satellite broadband in markets around the world. Mr. Hudson earned an Electrical Engineering degree from North Carolina State University, a Masters in Electrical Engineering from The Ohio State University and a Professional Engineers Degree in Electrical Engineering from the University of Southern California.
John Serafini
John is the Chief Executive Officer of HawkEye 360, a developer of space-based radio frequency (RF) mapping and analytics capabilities. He previously served as Senior Vice President of Allied Minds where he led the formation of and the investment into HawkEye 360, along with other Allied Minds companies such as BridgeSat, Federated Wireless, Optio Labs, Percipient Networks, and Whitewood Encryption Systems. John’s investment activities and management expertise center upon the intersection of profit-maximizing private capital and the unique requirements and R&D capabilities of the U.S. government.
A former Airborne Ranger-qualified U.S. Army infantry officer with duty stations at the 82d Airborne Division & UNCSB-JSA of the Korean DMZ, John holds a BS from the United States Military Academy at West Point, and an MBA and MPA from Harvard University.